[0001] The present invention relates to acid addition salts of an optically active alaninanilide
compound.
[0002] A pharmacologically active alaninanilide compound having an asymmetic carbon atom
has been used in the form of a racemic mixture as an active ingredient. More recently
an optically active compound of the pharmacological active compound has been preferably
used as an active ingredient to avoid side effects.
[0003] U.S. Patent No. 4,696,930 discloses substituted aniline compounds represented by
the formula:

wherein R₁ is alkylene′-NH₂ or alkylene′-A′; R₂, R₃ and R₄ are, independently, a hydrogen
atom or a methyl group; A and A′ are independently, an unsubstituted or a lower alkyl
or an aryl substituted pyridinyl, or pyrimidinyl group; alkylene and alkylene′ are
independently, straight chain alkylene moieties of 1-5 carbon atoms optionally substituted
with one or more alkyl substituents of 1-5 carbon atoms, or when an asymmetric carbon
is present, an enantiomer thereof, or a racemic mixture thereof; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof being useful as antiarrhythmic agents.
[0004] In that document, rac.-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
represented by the formula:

which is closely related to the salts of the present invention is actually described.
However, the compound of the formula (IV) above is a racemate not an optically active
compound.
[0005] An optically pure alaninanilide compound in the free form of formula (IV) is an oily
substance, therefore it is very hard to formulate such an optically pure compound
in a pharmaceutical composition.
[0006] Furthermore, a hydrochloric acid salt thereof has a highly hygroscopic property,
and the water contained in such a salt varies depending upon the moisture in atmosphere
in which that salt is allowed to stand. In an atmosphere of high humidity, such a
salt is deliquesced.
[0007] Accordingly, the net weight of that salt tends to vary due to its hygroscopic property
of absorbing moisture from atmosphere. Taking into consideration the fact that a pharmaceutical
composition has always to contain an active agent at a prescribed ratio so as to achieve
the expected effect and safety, such a salt is not necessarily desirable for preparing
pharmaceutical compositions.
[0008] The present invention provides an acid addition salt of an optically alaninanilide
compound of formula (I) below useful for drugs.
[0009] The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition containing a
salt of an optically active alaninanilide compound as an active ingredient.
[0010] In accordance with the present invention there is provided an acid addition salt
of an optically active alaninanilide compound represented by the formula:

wherein R¹ is a hydrogen atom, a benzoyl group or a toluoyl group; and the carbon
atom marked with (R) means a carbon atom in the R-configuration.
[0011] Our extensive research and experimentation has shown that the salts of the formula
(I) above absolutely solve the problems of the prior art compound and salts. That
is, the salts of the formula (I) are non-hygroscopic and thus have a constant net
weight and are stable without being affected by moisture contained in the atmosphere.
They are stable in an atmosphere having about 50% relative humidity at about 25-26°C.
They can thus advantageously be used to formulate pharmaceutical compositions which
can be of high quality.
[0012] The acid addition salts of an optical active alaninanilide compound represented by
formula (I) of the present invention exhibit anti-arrhythmic activities, thromboxane
A₂-synthetase inhibitory activities and platelet aggregation inhibitory activities
in the same way as does a racemate of formula (IV) or an acid addition salt thereof.
Thus they are useful as drugs for the treatment of arrhythmias, thrombosises or ischemic
cardiac insufficiencies.
[0013] The acid addition salts of formula (I) of the present invention can be prepared by
treating a free amine of an optically active alaninanilide compound or a racemate
with an optical active tartaric acid derivative such as D-tartaric acid, dibenzoyl-D-tartaric
acid, or ditoluoyl-D-tartaric acid, and then, if necessary, by fractional crystallization
of the obtained crude acid addition salt in accordance with the usual manner.
[0014] The compound of formula (IV) can be prepared in a similar way to that described in
the aforementioned U.S. Patent 4,696,930.
[0015] For example, N-carboethoxyphthalimide is reacted with alanine to obtain 2-phthalimidopropionic
acid, and the reaction product is converted to a reactive functional derivative thereof,
such as acid chloride. The acid chloride is then reacted with N-[3-(3-pyridyl)-propyl]-2,6-dimethylaniline
to obtain 2-phthalimido-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]-propanamide
and then the product is treated with a base, such as methylamine to prepare the desired
product of the formula (IV).
[0016] In the preparation of the compound of formula (IV) described above, if the optically
active D-alanine is employed as a starting material, a desired optically active compound
can be obtained in high purity. If that prepared compound is then employed as the
starting material to prepare an acid addition salt of formula (I), the desired acid
addition salt can be purified from the obtained crude acid addition salt by a very
simple purification manner.
[0017] In the present invention the acid addition salt, (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]-propanamide
D-tartrate represented by the formula (II):

wherein the carbon atom marked with (R) has the same meaning as described above,
is the most preferred.
[0018] When the acid addition salts of formula (I) of the present invention are employed
in the treatment of a patient, any pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound
as an active ingredient, such as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, syrups and
injectable preparations, may be formulated and may be administered orally or parenterally.
These pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated in accordance with usual formulation
manners.
[0019] The dosage of the compound may be determined in accordance with sex, age and body
weight of a patient, the nature of the disease and the degree of illness. It may,
for example, be 1-100 mg per day in oral administration in the adult and 0.1-1000
mg per day in parenteral administration in the adult.
[0020] The present invention is further illustrated by way of the following Examples and
Reference Examples. The melting points of the products obtained were uncorrected.
The optical purities of the products were calculated by chiral HPLC [Column: SUMICHIRAL
OA-4600 (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 5 µm, 4 mm i.d. x 25 cm; Eluent: n-hexane :
dichloroethane : ethanol = 80:15:5; Flow rate: 1.0 ml/min; Detection: UV 260 nm].
Samples were treated with acetic anhydride to derive acetates thereof prior to the
chromatography.
Reference Example 1
(R)-2-Phthalimidopropionic acid
[0022] To a solution of 50 g of D-alanine in 500 ml of water, was added 78 ml of triethylamine,
and 123 g of N-carbethoxyphthalimide was added to the mixture in small portions under
ice-cooling. The mixture was stirred for the following 30 minutes. The precipitated
materials were filtered off and the filtrate was acidified to pH 1-2 with 6N-hydrochloric
acid and was cooled to 5°C to precipitate crystals. The crystals were collected by
filtration and were washed twice each time with 100 ml of water and dried at 40°C
under reduced pressure to give 93 g of (R)-2-phthalimidopropionic acid as white crystals.

Reference Example 2
(R)-2-Phthalimido-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide hydrochloride
[0023] To a suspension of 10 g of (R)-2-phthalimido-propionic acid in 10 ml of thionyl chloride
was added 1.8 ml of dry dimethylformamide and the mixture was stirred for 5 hours
at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated
in vacuo and 50 ml of dry dichloroethane were added to the residue and the mixture was concentrated
in vacuo. The same procedure was repeated twice to remove excess thionyl chloride completely
and to obtain an acid chloride.
[0024] The obtained acid chloride was dissolved in 50 ml of dry dichloroethane, and a solution
of 9.97 g of N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]-2,6-dimethylaniline in 5 ml of dry dichloroethane
was dropped into the solution while keeping the temperature of the solution at 3-5°C.
Following this the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature over-night.
[0025] The precipitates were filtered off and washed twice each time with 50 ml of dry dichloroethane,
the filtrate was concentrated
in vacuo to give 22.6 g of (R)-2-phthalimido-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)-propyl]propanamide
hydrochloride as an amorphous powder.
Optical purity: 98% ee
IR (KBr): νco 1715, 1660 cm⁻¹
Reference Example 3
(R)-2-Amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
[0026] To a solution of 22.6 g of (R)-2-phthalimido-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]-propanamide
hydrochloride obtained in the Reference Example 2 in 113 ml of methanol was added
82 ml of 40% methylamine methanol solution and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight.
The solvent was evaporated
in vacuo, the residue was dissolved in 100 ml of 2N-hydrochloric acid and the solution was
washed twice each time with 70 ml of methylenechloride. The aqueous layer was neutralized
to pH 8 with sodium bicarbonate and the solution was extracted 3 times each time with
70 ml of methylene chloride.
[0027] The organic layer was washed with water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and
the solvent was evaporated
in vacuo to give 8.4 g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide.
Optical purity: 98% ee
IR (neat): νco 1650 cm⁻¹
Example 1
(R)-2-Amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide D-tartrate
[0028] A mixture of 8.4 g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
and 3.2 g of D-tartaric acid was dissolved in 33.5 ml of 3% aqueous ethanol and an
authentic sample was seeded to the solution and the solution was allowed to stand
overnight at room temperature.
[0029] The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and dried under reduced pressure
at 60°C to give 8.2g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
D-tartrate as white crystals.

Example 2
(R)-2-Amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(3-(3-pyridyl)propyl)propanamide dibenzoyl-D-tartrate
[0031] A mixture of 10 g of (RS)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
and 11.5 g of dibenzoyl D-tartaric acid were dissolved in 100 ml of ethanol and an
authentic sample was seeded to the solution and the solution was allowed to stand
overnight at 60°C. The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and dried
to give 9.92 g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
dibenzoyl D-tartrate.
Yield: 46.1%; Optical purity: 92.6% ee
[0032] The crystals were dissolved in a mixed solvent of 100 ml of chloroform and 200 ml
of ethanol and the solution was heated under reflux to remove chloroform completely.
Ethanol was added to the residual mixture to prepare an ethanol solution of about
200 ml in volume and the solution was allowed to stand overnight at 60°C. The precipitated
crystals were collected by filtration and dried to give 8,18 g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
dibenzoyl D-tartrate.

Example 3
(R)-2-Amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide D-tartrate
[0034] 50 ml of a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution was added to 8.18 g of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6
-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide dibenzoyl D-tartrate (optical purity:
100% ee) obtained in Example 2 and the mixture was extracted three times with 50 ml,
20 ml and 20 ml of methylene chloride.
[0035] The organic layer was washed successively with a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate
solution and water and was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated
in vacuo to give 3.90 g of (R)-2-amin-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)-propyl]propanamide.
[0036] A mixture of 3.90 g of the free amine obtained above and 1.86 g of D-tartaric acid
was dissolved in 15 ml of 3% aqueous ethanol and an authentic sample was seeded to
the solution and the solution was allowed to stand overnight at room temperature.
[0037] The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and dried to give 5.84 g of
(R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide D-tartrate.
The melting points and optical rotation of the product were identical to that of the
compound prepared in Example 1.
Example 4
(R)-2-Amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide di-p-toluoyl D-tartrate
[0039] A mixture of 500 mg of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
and 620 mg of di-p-toluoyl D-tartaric acid was dissolved in 5 ml of isopropanol and
an authentic sample was seeded to the solution and the solution was allowed to stand
overnight at room temperature. The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration
and dried at 60°C to give 608 mg of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
di-p-toluoyl D-tartrate as white crystals.

Example 5
Hygroscopicities determination test
[0040] The hygroscopicities of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]propanamide
hydrochloride (hereinafter referred to as hydrochloride of the R-form compound); D-tartrate,
dibenzoyl-D-tartrate and di-p-toluoyl D-tartrate of (R)-2-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-[3-(3-pyridyl)-propyl]propanamide
(hereinafter referred to as D-tartrate of the R-form compound, dibenxoyl D-tartrate
of the R-form compound and di-p-toluoyl D-tartrate of the R-form compound respectively),
were determined as follows.
[0041] Each sample was weighed out in about 0.1 g or 0.2 g into a weighing dish having a
diameter of about 2.7-3.0 cm.
[0042] The samples were allowed to stand in a constant moisturized vessel containing a saturated
aqueous calcium nitrate solution and having 51% of relative humidity at about 25-26°C.
[0043] The change of weight on standing of each sample was measured and the hygroscopicity
of each sample was determined according to the following equation.

W₁: Weight of the empty weighing dish (g)
W₂: Weight of the weighing dish containing a sample before standing (g)
W₃: Weight of the weighing dish containing a sample after standing (g)
[0044] Hygroscopicity (%) of D-tartrate of the R-form compound (Sample B) and dibenzoyl
D-tartrate of the R-form compound (Sample C) and di-p-toluoyl D-tartrate of the R-form
compound (Sample D) in comparison with that of hydrochloride of the R-form compound
(Sample A) is given below.
